Peace march in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 February 2000, 11:21 GMT]A peace march and rally was held today in Batticaloa town, urging the Government to ban all Sinhala chauvinist organizations opposing talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, initiated by Norway.

Pro government Tamil organisations EPRLF, EPDP, PLOTE, TELO, religious societies, schools and several non-governmental organizations were behind this peace march and rally.

The peace march started this morning from Arasady junction. It went through Muhathuwaram, Trincomalee road and Kottaimunai Bridge. The peace march ended at Mahatma Gandhi Square. Later the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was garlanded.

A memorandum addressed to the President was handed over to the Government Agent and the Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsley Swampillai.

The memorandum requested the President to ban all extremist organizations, which oppose the peace initiatives launched by Norway between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government should obtain the services of a mediator to find a political solution to the ethnic problem, said the memorandum.

The memorandum also requested that action should be taken to withdraw the proposed travel pass system for the Batticaloa district.